The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-07-30
A FRACTIONAL TICK EFT.

We confess that during the Hemo-
cratic contest which closed on Mon
day, we felt some sympathy with the
Young Democracy, so far as their cam
paign against the old "bosses" of then
party, meant better political methods
and was sincerely directed towards the
correction of existing abuses, and
against that personal domination in
local politics which has long since be-
come offensive in Cecil alike to Repub-
licans and Democrats. We hoped to
see both parties in the county put upon
higher plane this fall. Not in the ill.,
terest of individual leaders, but in the
interest Of the people of the county
upon whose shoulders fall the burdens
of mismanaged county affairs. We
hoped to see the standard of individual
qualification in candidates elevated, SC
that the taxpayers of the county al
ready over burdened, would have a
reasonable guarantee that those to
whom important public positions were
entrusted would be capable and eff
cient public servants. So far as the
previous declarations of the leaders OIL
the Young Democracy could be relied
upon as an earnest OF their true char
acter they were not to be considered
as IN any sense factionists. Indeed, SC
anxious were they to be recognized in
their true light as purifiers of local pol
itics, in their Democratic Convention
which assembled at Elkton on the ,,Ist
of August last, they solemnly de-
clared that the spirit of faction was
threatening the ascendency of theil
party in the county, and this resolution
was unanimously adopted by them:
Fcs0lled, That as an essential con
dition Of party unity this convention
earnestly recommends to the Demo.
Gratis of the county that the rule be
adopted of according to tile mino1ItJ
IN e1e1-y contest u fair representation
upon party tickets and in the part
organization.
Yet in the face of this authoritative
declaration of their position, and which
was adroitly addressed to the popular
recognition of the fact that in making
nominations which were purely factiona
individual qualification was generally
overlooked, they on Monday repeated
the folly of their predecessors. and
nominated a ticket which is in every
sense the ticket Of a faction.
1t is true that it represents the ma
jority of the votes cast at the primary
meetings. But it is no less true tina
with single exception, there nowhere
appears upon it the evidence of an,
concession to any element of their part,
other than that under their absolut,
control. "No compromise" seems tC
have been the word which passed along
their line. They were the complete mas
tiers of the situation for the time a
least, and the result is ticket which
cannot by any means command tn,
entire Democratic strength, and Ger
tainly no Republican support.
The gentlemen whose names com
pose the ticket are reputable men, an,
personally Of good standing in tn,
county, but with one or two exceptions
are conspicuously untitled for the posi-
tons for which they have been nomi
mated.
Can it reasonably be asserted tina
the gentlemen to whose hands was en-
trusted the management of the coEven
ton of Monday, regarded individual
| qualification in making up their ticket
Did they not rather consider solely tn,
extent to which the respective nomi
nees would III the future adhere to thu
| political fortunes of those who nance
themo
The logic of the situation is simpl,
this, one faction succeeds in nominal
ing all entire ticket, and SO bitter ha
the contes: been that the selection O
candidates is naturally and inevitably
confined to the successful side, and be
ing SO confined, many capable men are
excluded from the list of possible can
didates. The history of the Democratic
party for years past only repeats itself
since tactlonal service and not inGivid
ual competency controls the dispense
| ton of factional favors. The actor.
have changed places, but the play is il
every line the same
And now should not the Republican.
of Cecil county learn wisdom from the
experience of the past, and avoid the
factional rock upon which our oppo.
nents have again split? Is the fact moi
self-evident that factional contests are
waged at the expense of our tax paying
citizens since they are the principal
obstacle in the way of securing the
services OF better public servants?
Isn't this good time, when the
hard earned accumulations of the far.
mer, the mechanic, and the laborer are
so grudgingly paid to the -gatherer,
to elect men who will take office moi
for the purpose of advancing the inter
ests of any man, Or of any set of men,
but solely with the aim to promote the